Turner mayor to hang it up; candidates sought

Turner Mayor Paul Thomas announced that he will not seek another term.

Thomas delivered the announcement to the community via his monthly newsletter column, extending a simultaneous welcome to his potential successor.

"I would like to take a moment at this time to thank everyone for their support over the last few years," Thomas wrote. "I have decided that 6 years as either a councilor or mayor is enough and I am going to go back to being a full time retired bum. So anyone who is interested in being mayor can opt to run for that position. I think anyone who wants to do it will find it challenging while at the same time fun."

The city also has three council positions up for election on the November ballot, but as of Aug. 1, no candidates have filed. The mayor is elected every two years, and councilors serve four-year terms.

City Clerk Linda Hansen said the deadline to file is Monday, Aug. 18. There is a caveat that could extend the deadline, with a fee.

"If someone were to choose to pay the $25 and not register with petition signatures, that deadline could be extended until August 28," Hansen said, though stressing that the fee approach is a bit of a hassle. "(The city is) hoping that people won't wait until the very last minute. The signatures on the petition need to be certified by Marion County, which takes additional time."

Hansen also said there is a $50 fee to be in the voter's pamphlet, and that paperwork needs to be submitted to Marion County by Friday, Aug. 22.

Thomas reported that another project in the 5th Street Park has been checked off the list; sprinklers installed on the baseball field. In addition, the city is forging ahead with the chore of swathing out a trail in the 13 acres purchased adjacent to the park, but that work is still in progress with a some thorny obstructions.

"The blackberries have proven to be a tough opponent," Thomas said.

In other Turner news:

•  A public meeting regarding the Delaney Road project is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today, at the Fire Station. The city of Turner notified those people directly impacted by mail.

•  Turner Fire District Chief Jon Remy reminded area residents that backyard burning will return soon enough in the fall, but the driest part of the season is now — as is the burn ban.

"We are just now getting to the heart of fire season in our area," Remy noted. "The next several weeks will be the driest of the year, and even a small mistake can lead to devastation. It truly takes just one spark to destroy an entire neighborhood."

Turner Fire was dispatched to a four-alarm grass fire on July 18 that burned nearly 20 acres in the 12000 block of Summit Loop SE. Residents of the area were on alert that afternoon for possible evacuations, as more units responded from Albany, Lebanon, Jefferson, Scio, Salem, Stayton and Marion County.